Inca Llama
I visited the excellent Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich and I was particularly taken by a silver llama effigy Searching on the internet I found many other examples of llama effigies in museum collections. Wanting one for myself I decided to make one, from wood and as an automaton of course. I used the gold example below as a model as its features are more suitable for modelling in wood..
- I painstakingly modelled the llama using 3D software to ensure repeatability. It is machined from lime wood and then assembled and hand carved to the final shape.
The wooden body is painted with 2 coats of artists gesso, sanded in-between followed by 3 coats of acrylic silver paint. Finally a wash of gloss medium with a smidgeon of black is applied to give an ancient silver look. The result is surprisingly convincing.
Also available in gold (colour). 
- The frame is made from birch plywood and beech. The top is made from either maple or oak. (Maple in the examples shown).
All the fittings are turned from brass to give extra smooth running and an internal gear is used to keep the base compact.
This highly decorative automaton is very smooth running.
Height 27 cms, (10.5 inches)
Length 10 cms (4 inches)
Width 7.5 cms (3 inches) 
